McCloudz

            With the recent rise in states moving towards legalizing marijuana, glass shops and glass artists who make artistic pipes are becoming more prominent across the nation.
            With a population of about 12,000 smoke shops in the United States, the glass culture is thriving. New shops are opening that house not only a place to showcase this glass work, but also a studio to create these one-of-a-kind pieces. One of these shops, McCloudz Pipes and Novelties, is housed on Main Street in Norman, Oklahoma.

            To build his shop and studio, TaMike McCloud first needed to make some money. His lawn mowing/property preservation company, Oklahoma Superior Investments (OSI) preservation was started in 2009. Luckily for him, OSI expanded from 50 properties to 300 properties in the matter of a year, and in 2011 McCloudz was able to open its doors in Midwest City. Since moving McCloudz to Norman in 2013, TaMike has stepped away from OSI for the most part, leaving it to his wife Laura to operate.

            For the last year, TaMike has worked to expand his studio. When it first opened in Norman, McCloudz shared space with a screen printing company called Perspectives. The shop was housed in the back half of the suite space, using a curtain as a divider between the two companies. Perspectives later moved out of the suite, deciding that working from home would be more cost-effective for their business. This allowed TaMike to take over the entire space, making McCloudz what it is today.

            TaMike and his employees share a vision of creating a space for art. So far, their vision is taking shape; and as the shop continues to grow, so will their artist collection.

VIDEO: Tyler Jones

RUNS: 1:53

College Stress

Students lining up for free snow cones to help relieve stress. Photo By: Tyler Jones

   
        At most universities around the United States it’s near finals week, and students are procrastinating, studying, crying, and stressing, but not necessarily in that order.
    Whether it be work-related, life problems, or school deadlines, stress is something we as humans deal with on an almost daily basis. Stress is a term that, according to Psych Central, is response to a demand for change. This response is actually a necessity to life. Without stress, we would be less likely to finish homework, do well on tests, perform at work, and be healthy. In a study done by Ohio State University researchers, it was found that a moderate amount of stress during memory tasks actually strengthened the immune system. This is what stress is meant to do: enhance our learning abilities and keep our bodies in sync. But, too much stress, such as for the average college student, can lead to mental health issues.
    Nowadays, stress seems like it is part of being a college student. The National Alliance on Mental Illness says that around 40 percent of college students have experienced a higher-than-average amount of stress in the last year. Along with that, 80 percent of college students have been overwhelmed by the amount of things they have to do in the last year, and 45 percent have come to the conclusion that everything was hopeless. These numbers large, yet not entirely shocking.
    On any given day, a college student can have four hour-long classes, studying outside of those classes (which the recommended amount of studying is double or even triple the time spent in class, depending on the difficulty), and possibly going to a job or internship. Also, keeping healthy relationships with friends and family and managing monetary expenses. Then they need to try to fit nutrition and sleep in there, which often gets put to the side. If this student is in a fraternity or sorority, their responsibilities can potentially double. Students today are faced with more stress than students from twenty or thirty years ago.
    Based on a study done by the Higher Education Research Institute at UCLA, 30 percent of freshmen in 1999 felt stressed entering college. Compare that to only 16 percent in 1985. The stress change over the decades can be contributed to the pressure of being successful in a quicker amount of time and the advancement of technology. With cell phones becoming pocket computers, and young, self-made millionaires on the rise, it’s no wonder young adults are stressing out about their lives. It’s time for students to moderate their stress and make it a driving force, not a burden.
    To live this moderate stress-fueled life, students need to first relieve some of this stress they are experiencing now. One of the best ways to do this is to keep a list or planner of everything that needs to be done day-by-day. This will enable them to look at what to stress about and when to stress about it, so they can push themselves to get it done. Next, excelsior, or always be positive. This can be done by taking any negative thoughts one may have, such as “I have an assignment due in two days. I’ll never be able to finish in time,” and change that to “I have an assignment due in two days. I can and will work well under pressure.” Finally, the most important thing a student can do for themselves is sleep. The best way to get some much-needed sleep is to establish a sleeping ritual: Keep a regular bed time and wake time, even on the weekends. Establish a relaxing bedtime routine (reading, bubble baths, whatever soothes you.) Exercise regularly, even if it’s just going for a walk, but do it a few hours before bed. Avoid caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol right before bed. Follow this routine, and sleep should come more easily.
    College students have much to worry about on a daily basis, and staying mentally healthy is or should be the main focus. Enjoy college life, the atmosphere, the parties, and the people as much as you can.


Alex Lynn, an OU student, tells me what stress does to her and what she does to avoid it.
VIDEO: Tyler Jones
RUNS: :25